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CPS' decision for 'free range' parents debated

The debate over the actions of Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, of Silver Spring, began in December when state authorities started investigating them for letting their children walk to school by themselves.

The debate over the actions of Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, of Silver Spring, began in December when state authorities started investigating them for letting their children walk to school by themselves.

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Updated: 5:51 PM EST Mar 3, 2015

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WEBVTT THAT HOME DATES BACK TO THE 1960'S AND WAS ONCE A BARN OWNED BY THE FARMER -- FOUNDER OF COLUMBIA. STAN: A MARYLAND COUPLE HAS BEEN FOUND RESPONSIBLE FOR "UNSUBSTANTIATED CHILD NEGLECT", AFTER THEY LET THEIR KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL ALONE. THE SILVER SPRING PARENTS ARE ONCE AGAIN AT THE CENTER OF A NATIONWIDE DEBATE THAT BEGAN BACK IN DECEMBER. DONNA: STATE AUTHORITIES STARTED INVESTIGATING THEM FOR REPORTS OF THEM LETTING KIDS WALK TO SCHOOL BY THEMSELVES. 11 NEWS REPORTER MEGAN PRINGLE TALKED TO LOCAL PARENTS TO GET THEIR REACTION. MEGAN: IT HAS BEEN CALLED THE WALK DISCUSSED AROUND THE WORLD. DANIELLE AND ALEXANDER NEVER THOUGHT LETTING THEIR CHILDREN , 10 AND SIX YEARS OLD WALK HOME FROM THE PARK, WOULD SPARK A NATIONAL DISCUSSION. THE PARENTS WERE INTERVIEWED WHEN CPS BEGAN INVESTIGATING. THEY NEED TO LEARN THAT INTANGIBLE THING WE CALL STREETSMARTS. IT SEEMS TO BE A LESSON LEARNED THE HARD WAY. MONTGOMERY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FOUND THE PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSUBSTANTIATED CHILD NEGLECT. THE INVESTIGATION CENTERED AROUND MARYLAND LAW WHICH STATES ANY CHILD UNDER EIGHT CANNOT BE LEFT ALONE IN A BUILDING ENCLOSURE OR MOTOR VEHICLE. THIS HAS LIT UP SOCIAL MEDIA WITH MANY QUESTIONING THE DECISION. I DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION CULTURALLY WE ARE HEADING IN. WE TALKED TO PARENTS WHO HAVE CONCERNS. EVEN THOUGH SHE WALKS HER -- DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, SHE IS SLOWLY LOOSENING HER HAND. AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILD IS, YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO THESE THINGS. EVEN PARENTS WHO ADMIT TO BEING MORE CAUTIOUS ARE SURPRISED BY THE OUTCOME. SUCH A TRICKY QUESTION, BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW WILL YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH IN EUROPE AND LATIN AMERICA. IT IS HARD TO MAKE IT ONE DECISION BE A BLANKET DECISION. FINDING THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSUBSTANTIATED CHILD NEGLECT MEANS CBS CAN KEEP A FILE ON THEM FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. THE COUPLE PLAN TO FIGHT THIS AND CONTINUE TO LET THEIR CHILDREN WALK AND PLAY TOGETHER.

CPS' decision for 'free range' parents debated

The debate over the actions of Danielle and Alexander Meitiv, of Silver Spring, began in December when state authorities started investigating them for letting their children walk to school by themselves.